Mauritius is becoming an emigration hotspot for people from all over the world. The stunning weather and gorgeous landscapes aren't the only reasons to consider moving to this island paradise: a great real estate market, accommodating tax regime and booming business environment are all attractive reasons to consider moving to the island. If you're on the fence about making the move, here are our top three reasons why you should take the leap and emigrate to Mauritius.

Quality of Life

The beautiful beaches might be the first thing that you think of when someone says "Mauritius" but the island has plenty more to offer in terms of quality of life. For starters, the island has incredible diversity in its cultures and cuisines, making it a paradise for those who want to experience a wide range of cultures.

Of course, island life has a massive range of outdoor activities to keep you and your family occupied. If you enjoy adventure and nature, Mauritius is full of opportunities to spend time in the great outdoors with almost no travel time or costs involved.

Crime rates in Mauritius are also extremely low, so it's a wonderful place to raise a family. The level of education for expat children is also excellent, with schools offering international education qualifications. The island also offers free government healthcare for both residents and expats, with excellent private hospitals as an option for those who would prefer to choose their own providers.

A Great Place to Work or Start a Business

The World Bank ranked Mauritius as the 13^th best place to do business in the world. The island nation does particularly well in terms of its tax system, which is simple and straightforward. Taxes in Mauritius are also low compared to many other countries, with a flat income and corporate tax rate of 15% and no taxation at all on capital gains, dividends, and inheritances.

If you're looking to open a company in Mauritius, you'll need at least one director to be a resident but visas for expat business owners are easy to get and are often a good pathway to achieving permanent residency. All occupation permits will also give your dependents the opportunity to gain residency alongside you, including your spouse, children, and parents.

If you're less entrepreneurially inclined, getting a professional occupation permit will allow you to work for a Mauritian employer. The island has a thriving financial services sector, alongside pharmaceuticals, tourism, mining, and telecommunications and there are plenty of recruitment agencies who are able to help you find a position with one of the island companies.  

An Attractive Property Market

In recent years, the Mauritian government has been on a mission to make it easier and more attractive for people to move to and invest in the country. One of the changes that they made was to make it easier for expats to purchase property on the island.

With these changes, the residential real estate market in Mauritius has taken off, with foreign investments driving the housing market boom. While there are some restrictions on the properties that foreigners can buy in Mauritius, purchasing any property above $375 000 grants you residency in the country for as long as you own the property. Recent legislative changes means that this residency also gives you access to a wider range of properties in the market, creating great investment opportunities in real estate and tourism on the island.

Summary

If you've imagined a life on an island paradise but thought that it was an unrealistic dream, you might be in for a pleasant surprise. Mauritius has everything that one would expect from island living, while also offering a great business environment, strong property market, and an attractive tax system that would give you the best of both business and leisure.

Source: Pierre Rousseau - Founder PropertyTime South Africa & Mauritius